The Farmers Mart Autumn 2017 - Issue 52 | Page 34

Kiln Farm We are proud to be suppliers to The Bensons, Kiln Farm & wish them continued success for the future Russell Group RR www.russells.uk.com Find us at : Malton 01653 698000 Boroughbridge 01423 324848 Northallerton 01609 771727 Selby 01977 663353 Hull Groundcare 01430 444700 Hallmark Cubley 01355 330399 Hallmark Rothwell 01536 713329 Proud to be associated with Nidderdale Llamas www.fandmgroup.co.uk 34 Autumn 2017 www.farmers-mart.co.uk Understanding the psychology of the llamas is crucial and it is also important to know their history – there are those that just don’t fit in and so have to be sold. The past two years have seen the business really take off. Suzanne has redesigned the website and they have bought some more boys as they had too many girls. Suzanne’s knowledge of llamas and alpacas is now pretty extensive, so much so she is now North East and West England co-ordinator for The British Llama society and is frequently asked for advice on health, behaviour and nutrition by the RSPCA. She explained that they are amusing creatures but have to feed separately as they tend to spit at each other and if one spits in the others food they won’t eat it! Also, when the get stressed they dislocate their jaws. Fortunately, the alpacas are happy to eat together! FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE – AND THERAPY TOO I asked Suzanne her plans for the future. “To keep the farm on an even keel and to produce all their own trekkers - although if they keep producing girls we will have to have two teams!” she smiled. She now has the trekking side down to a fine art. As well as straightforward trekking they do stag and hen parties now, weddings as mentioned earlier but also very interestingly, they work with special needs children and also with dementia patients. The animals have an amazing calming effect and equally amazing memory. They have one girl who comes every year and goes with the same llama every time. A llama trekking experience is fantastic. Firstly you meet Suzanne and her friendly team then the next part of the experience is like speed dating - where you meet the llamas and find out which one you are suited to, get to know them, then off you go on the trek. Seven is the age limit that works best, which is why they have the pet village for the younger ones. It has been a long, tough journey with many challenges that Suzanne, James and indeed the family have risen to, but today they have both Kiln Farm and the Nidderdale Llamas of which they can be justifiably proud.